It is picking up downtown

New businesses are popping up — including several in the food and beverage industry — in the downtown area of Sault Ste. Marie.

Just in the area alone between East and March streets along Queen, the number of new establishments is noteworthy and encouraging as downtown takes on an appearance of being in a comeback stage of growth.

Recently opened, right beside the Sault Ste. Marie Museum — and opposite venerable Muio’s Restaurant, which is the flagship establishment of downtown — is Broers Jansen, a wine bar which also serves local and regional craft beer.

Several other food and beverage businesses have either just opened or are slated to open soon — in the area between East and March.

They include East St. Pizza Co., Rasoi Indian Kitchen, Georgie’s Shawarma, Q Cafe and The Queen’s Tarts.

Then there are relatively new eating establishments — all opened within the past couple of years — that have greatly boosted the downtown area. They include Tandoori Gardan, J. Caroline’s, Mane Street Cafe and Lounge and Vibe Eatery and Juice Co. (Vibe is located just off Queen on March St.)

Add in the fact that Gliss, a long-established restaurant, recently relocated to Spring St. (between Queen and Albert streets) and Montana’s BBQ and Bar opened earlier this year at the bottom of Spring St.

Holdovers that have maintained a long-time presence along Queen St. between East and March streets include the Pita Pit, Arturo Ristorante, Tazzi’s Cafe and Sweet Greetings Coffee Bar.

Along the side streets between East and March are places such as the time-honoured New A Pub as well as Stackburger. And between Brock and Spring streets on Albert St. is Embers Grill and Smokehouse.

Meanwhile, the decades-old Reggie’s Tavern is slated to re-open soon following a fire that closed the downtown bar almost two years ago.

And the aging Windsor Park Hotel — which has been vacant and in need of repair for some time — was recently purchased by a local businessman with plans to turn it into a residence.

To be sure, a lot of work still needs to be done to try to restore downtown Sault Ste. Marie to a semblance of its glory days.

But entrepreneurs young and old are investing in downtown and the proof in the pudding is the number of new bars and eateries that have either just opened or are poised to open.

PHOTO: Friends enjoy a glass of wine at Broers Jansen, which recently opened on Queen St., just across from Muio’s.